Luton Town FC vs Harrogate Town (9th Jan 2022)

Emirates FA Cup R4 Report | Luton Town 4-0 Harrogate Town

The Hatters made it through to the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup by overcoming League Two club Harrogate Town at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

Elijah Adebayo, Cameron Jerome, Kal Naismith and Luke Berry - on his return after two and a half months out with injury - were the goalscorers to see off a spirited Harrogate side, on a day when the Mick Harford returned to the Town dugout after his treatment for prostate cancer.

Manager Nathan Jones has made three changes from the side that drew with Fulham in the Championship almost a month ago, with four games having been postponed over the festive period.

Henri Lansbury came into midfield alongside Jordan Clark with Carlos Mendes Gomes ahead of them, while Cameron Jerome started with Elijah Adebayo up-front as manager Nathan Jones named a strong starting line-up as the Hatters bid to book their place in round four of the competition.

Harrogate started the game well and forced four corners in the opening six minutes, which also included a lengthy hold-up for treatment for Reece Burke, but the Hatters were soon on the front foot with Adebayo flicking on and Jerome going past his man on the right edge of the Harrogate box before standing up a cross intended for Mendes Gomes, but it was just too high.

The same combination produced the opener in the 19th minute, this time Jerome winning the header from James Shea's clearance and Adebayo gathered the ball, turned and shot brilliantly into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Harrogate were continually posing problems for the Hatters' defence, however, especially down their right with Ryan Fallowfield and George Thomson delivering several dangerous crosses into the Town six-yard box.

The closest they came was from a free-kick, however, after Lansbury had been booked for a late challenge on Fallowfield 25 yards from goal. Thomson struck it hard and low, but just wide of the foot of Shea's right post.

The Hatters had to wait until two minutes before half-time for another chance to present itself, but Jerome's volley at goal after a poor headed clearance from Rory McArdle was easily gathered by visiting keeper Mark Oxley.

The League Two side had enjoyed the better of the opening half, but it was the Town who took the advantage into the break and goalscorer Adebayo who went close to extending the lead in the 48th minute, but his left-footed shot drifted just the wrong side of the far post.

The second didn't take long to arrive, however, with Mendes Gomes tricking his was past his man on the right side of the area and driving a low cross into the six-yard box that Jerome scrambled home from almost on the line.

Once again Harrogate came back, Luke Armstrong latching onto Lansbury's loose back pass and lifting an effort over the onrushing Shea, who was outside his area, but the ball landed safely wide from a Hatters perspective.

Jones made his first changes on the hour, Luke Berry and Allan Campbell entering the fray in place of Lansbury and Jerome, before bringing on Fred Onyedinma and Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu ten minutes later, with Amari'i Bell and Jordan Clark the men to make way.

Armstrong reminded the Town back four of his threat with 15 minutes to go, meeting a right-wing cross from Burrell with a glancing header that was off target, before impressive debutant Brahima Diarra - signed on loan this week from Huddersfield - flashed a shot just wide soon after.

Danny Hylton replaced the opening goalscorer, Adebayo, on 77 minutes on as Jones made his fifth and final petrmitted substitution in FA Cup matches. Fellow sub Campbell soon fired high over the bar.

Naismith added the third goal with eight minutes to go, his first attempt from outside the box being blocked, but his reactions were razor-sharp, winning the loose ball with a nod of the head and clipping a beautiful finish past the onrushing Oxley for the second goal of his Town career.

Shea made a brilliant save from Armstrong with five minutes to go, to preserve the clean sheet after a loose pass from Burke presented Harrogate with a chance.

Diarra shot wide soon after, but Berry added a fourth goal, and his fifth of the season, after some wonderful left wing play by Onyedinma.

The Hatters were safely into the draw for the fourth round, which will be screened on ITV1 from 4.50pm this evening. Look out for ball number 22!

Goals: Adebayo 18, Jerome 50, Naismith 82, Berry 88

Att: 4,834 (330 away)

Nathan Jones' Harrogate reaction

Manager Nathan Jones was pleased his side were able to progress into the Emirates FA Cup fourth round with a comfortable win against Harrogate Town.

Their League Two opponents kept them on their toes for much of the 90 minutes, but three second-half goals helped secure passage and a ball number in the next round.

“All I asked them to do was win the game,” Jones admitted post-match. “We’ve gone a month without playing and it showed, we also gave them a big week this week because we needed it, working more than we would have and we took a gamble on a few things, and we got away with a few things slightly in terms of winning the game and keeping a clean sheet.

“They played with more rhythm than we did. There was a lot of players out there who haven’t played in a month, some even longer because of injuries but it was a good game for us because I think with the greatest of respect if it was a Championship game we probably would have got punished.”

Ahead of this afternoon’s draw, the gaffer said: “We loved to get a Man United, Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, any one of those away or if we haven’t got that, then let’s get a home tie but for now, it’s a number of weeks away and we have a big schedule.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkiHrr7TBkU – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88--XoOy2aE – reverse angle highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agQhi4PBiFE – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvTdv5oy66M – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZTkOEF_dII – Luke Berry interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DozdvZJ03qs – Kal Naismith

Hatters' finishing proves the difference as Town eventually ease past impressive Sulphurites

FA Cup third round: Luton Town 4 Harrogate Town 0

Luton's superior finishing proved the difference as they eventually eased past League Two Harrogate in the FA Cup this afternoon, although it was nowhere near as easy as the final scoreline might suggest.

A late brace from Kal Naismith and Luke Berry added a real gloss to the tie, but had the Sulphurites made more of their numerous opportunities from wide areas, and had keeper James Shea not been in tiptop form for the hosts, it might have been an entirely different afternoon.

Following an enforced absence of 29 days due to Covid outbreaks, the Hatters made three changes from the team who drew 1-1 with Fulham in what seemed a lifetime ago, Cameron Jerome, Henri Lansbury and Carlos Mendes Gomes in for Admiral Muskwe, Allan Campbell and Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu.

The visitors, 45 places below Luton in the pyramid, made a decent start to proceedings, looking lively, particularly when they got the ball wide, as Town took a while to shake off some of their obvious ring rust.

Leading marksman Elijah Adebayo demonstrated he had clearly lost none of his sharpness during the break, doing superbly to get in front of his man when picking up Jerome's flick-on from Shea's clearance.

Still with plenty to do, he did it with real class, turning sharply and from 20 yards, arrowed his 11th of the season into the bottom corner, no doubt putting a few more pounds on to his ever rising price tag.

Harrogate remained undaunted, a low shot by George Thomson gathered by Shea, who then lost footing when clearing, the impressive Huddersfield loanee Brahima Diarra unable to beat the retreating stopper from distance.

The Sulpuhrites remained in the ascendancy, with Kenilworth Road enveloped in a general Sunday afternoon malaise, Town fortunate to remain in front, as their League Two opponents were dictating things, repeatedly getting down the right to deliver a number of dangerous crosses.

A free kick conceded by Lansbury saw Thomson go for goal from 25 yards, missing the target by inches, as the visitors, with Ryan Fallowfield and Diarra to the fore, were beginning to dictate things, easily looking the better side.

Jerome had an opportunity to give Luton some breathing space, going for a spectacular volley inside the area, but got little contact, Oxley able to comfortably gather.

Town came out with a bit more intent for the second period, which was badly needed, Jerome and Adebayo linking well for the latter to shoot across goal.

Luton's fast start was rewarded on 50 minutes, Mendes Gomes spinning way inside the area and fashioning a drilled cross which was bundled over the line by Jerome for his first goal since August.

Town were almost immediately pegged back though, Lansbury giving the ball away and Luke Armstrong through on goal, but under pressure from Bradley and the onrushing Shea, he could only fire wide.

With five substitutes allowed in the FA Cup, boss Nathan Jones made his first on the hour, a welcome return for Berry, as Town, now looking far more at ease and in control, almost grabbed a third, Jordan Clark denied by an outstretched leg, his follow up straight at Oxley.

Now Harrogate's main threat from the flanks Fallowfield was withdrawn, the visitors attacks became limited for a while, although they did manufacture one presentable chance on 74 minutes, Warren Burnell's ball in flicked wide by Armstrong.

They had an even better opportunity moments later, Diarra found in acres of space inside the box, managing to beat Shea but also the far post, failing to get the goal his and his team-mate's performance deserved.

Free from a sticky final 10 minutes, Danny Hylton came on for Adebayo, as Allan Campbell blazed over the top, but Luton did have a third on 82 minutes.

Naismith picked up a poor header outside the box, and although his terrific control and volleyed was blocked, his desire was great to reach the loose ball, deliciously dinking over Oxley and secure Luton's place in the next round.

Harrogate threw men forward in an attempt to give their 330-strong travelling support something to cheer and but for Shea they would have done so, the Luton keeper spreading himself brilliantly to keep out Armstrong and then diving to his left to save from Diarra.

With two to go, Fred Onyedinma ran rings around Burnell on the left, and getting his head up, picked out the run of Berry who lifted his finish into the roof of the net and complete the victory.

Hatters: James Shea, James Bree, Reece Burke, Sonny Bradley, Kal Naismith, Amari'i Bell (Fred Onyedinma 71), Henri Lansbury (Luke Berry 60), Jordan Clark (Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu 71), Carlos Mendes Gomes, Cameron Jerome (Allan Campbell 60), Elijah Adebayo (Danny Hylton 78).

Subs not used: Simon Sluga, Glen Rea, Gabe Osho, Dan Potts.

Sulphurites: Mark Oxley, Ryan Fallowfield (Warren Burrell 52), Lewis Page, Josh Falkingham ©, George Thomson, Nathan Sheron, Lloyd Kerry (Josh Austerfield 61), Jack Muldoon, Brahiam Diarra, Rory McArdle, Luke Armstrong.

Subs not used: Joe Cracknell, Connor Hall.

Booked: Lansbury 33.

Referee: James Linington.

Attendance: 4,834 (330 Harrogate).

Jones happy to get through in FA Cup after admitting Town were nowhere near their best

Luton eventually ease past League Two opposition

Luton boss Nathan Jones was happy that his side were able to reach the FA Cup fourth round with a 4-0 victory over League Two Harrogate Town this afternoon despite being well below their best.

The Hatters struggled to get going for large periods of the first half following 29 days without a match due to Covid outbreaks, as the impressive visitors looked more than capable of causing an upset, but still managed to lead 1-0 at the break through Elijah Adebayo's superb finish from 20 yards.

It was a different story in the second period, Luton upping the ante to score a further three times, Cameron Jerome, Kal Naismith and the returning Luke Berry on target, although Town were indebted to some fine saves from James Shea that prevented a nervous last 15 minutes, as their opponents could count themselves unlucky to be on the end of such an unflattering scoreline.

On the victory, Jones said: “We haven’t played any football in a month, we’ve given them a big week this week in terms of training and in numbers as we’ve got to get up to speed, so it was a gamble.

“We’ve got a lot players who haven't played in a long time, so it showed, but still, we’ve been a mile off our levels of intensity, of energy, of quality, of work-rate, of defensive prowess and we’ve managed to win the game 4-0, so it’s not a bad world is it?

“With the greatest respect if we’d have been playing Bournemouth today we’d have got punished, it was that type of game, but that’s the way of the world we live in.

“We didn't choose to have Covid, we didn't choose to have the games called off, two of the games were called off not our doing, so it’s just the way it is.

“We knew this would be our first game back, we’d have to get then prep worked, we knew it was a stern test and we treated it right.

"We made the changes we need to and a lot of people had minutes and that’s what it was about.

“We’re in the next round, credit to Harrogate they're a good side, Simon’s (Weaver) done a great job there, but we won the game 4-0.

"So let’s not forget that even though we were nowhere near our lives and although it could have been a different story, it wasn’t.”